Automatic wireless apparatus for preventing collisions.



H. D. BETZ.

AUTOMATIC WIRELESS APPARATUS FOR PREVENTING COLLISiONS. APPLICATION Fl LED 0502011913- 13663890 Patented May 14, 1918.

r L are WITNESSES:

nrnrnn sc en es reruns oerron.

men? :0. :snrz, or Kansas CITY, rcrssonnr.

AUTOMATIC 'WIBFLE LESS AEEARATUS FOR ZBEVENTING GDIiLISIOIQ'S.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application files December 20, 1913. Serial Ito. 857,905.

a full, clear, and exact description of the in-.

vention, such as will enable others skilled-in the art to which it appertnins to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to Wireless apparatus for automatically stopping a railway locomotive, car, vessel, or other mechanicall driven vehicle to prevent its collision Wit another properly equipped locomotive, car,

vessel or other mechanically driven vehicle,

and for the prevention of other accidents, such as a locomotive runnin through an open switch, or the like, and comprises means adapted for mounting on locomotives, cars, vessels and other mechenicall driven vehicles, for receiving and sending Hertzian waves, and apparatus adapted for mounting at fixed stations for sending Hertzian waves to he received by the apparatus on moving stations When the latter enters the danger zone of the sending apparatus; the principal object of the invention being to provide an apparatus of this character which is Wholly automatic in its action, thus providing a dc vice for the prevention of collisions and other accidents by automatically stopping locomotives, cars, vessels and other meohanically driven vehicles independently of human agencies and their liability to err.

It is also an object of my invention to pro-- vide an apparatus of this character by means of which the throttle of a locomotive r i ally closed, the air line opened and provision made automatically, for the continuous sending out or" Hertzian waves and whcrri y the power controlling device or mechanism of any mechanically propelled car, vessel or other vehicle will he mmmniticnlly operated so as to shut off the propelling power, reverse the some as may be necessary, and automatically operate the brakes orother sp retarding de ice or mechanism thereon fl provision made antomatically for continuous sending out of l-lertzian we The above being accomplished automatically by the receipt of Hertzian Waves from cooperating apparatus, either stationary or moving, creating a so-called dangerous zone, Whioh'zone is limited by the strength of the transmitting power of such cooperating ap paratus, and affecting the receiving instru ments of the apparatus on a, moving station when it enters within such dangerous zone;

Patented May 14%, 1918,. v

thus setting the receiving instruments of the apparatus of such moving station and breaking the main hatter-y circuit thereof, so that the steam of the locomotive or the propelling power of the our, vessel, or other mwhonh cally driven vehicle, will he cut off, and, if

necessary, reversed; the brakes of the locomotive or other speed retarding device or mechanism of the car, vessel, or other ruechanically driven vehicle applied, bringing the locomotive, car, vessel, or vehicle to a stop, and the transmitting instruments of the apparatus mounted thereon compelled to send out Hertzian Waves continuously in order to prevent the near approach from any direction of another sin'iilarly equipped locomotive, car, or vessel, or other mechanically driven vehicle. The three above named functions are accomplished entirely automatically on the receipt of the Wireless Waves from any cooperating station. I

In carrying out my invention, in its up plication to or use on a locomotive; I provide apparatus for mounting motive comprising a battery and electromagnets for retaining the locomotive throttle in operative position and the air line closed, together with electrical circuits, whereby the circuits from the main hatte through the throttle, air line valve andcntch magnets may be broken to release the throttle, the air valve retaining lever and the clutch automatically, immediately upon receipt of the Hertzian waves from the transmitting or sending instmments of zucooperating apparatus, upon entrance into the dangerous zone of a cooperating apparatus. I also vary the receiving and sending or transmit ting periods of the apparatus mounted on different locomotives in order to obviate for socce s cl sending and receiving,

be mounted on e locomoti. .e throttle andair line control; and air line mechanism insecrete the operation oi? tneep view oi as clutch mech- 21 i: r ceni; 1e throitle valve rod and 1s adopted to be held operetivc position by a, magnet 8 in the main battery circuit hereinafter described. h

The throttle valve lever is pro ected through. a quadrant 9, so inst when the fulcrvn mere of the lever is sealed, the throttle may be operated in the ordiscry designates the msin air line for scrv+ .ue brakes of the locomotive and train v icli 1s coimected, and lla'Vlllif on 12 that is located Within 1;.

7 8, a ring plurality of perinel f en aperures is, through 'Wmci'i air moy escape so e ,e atmosphere when die 12 valve 155 nose-a; d by r 1" "essure of e is lever 15 is 1 adjacent the valve ml normally V ed the hooked end of armature 16 ;",o retain the in operative position, and the valve seated the magnet 1,9 is energized, and which speed to release the lever when the c is deenergiced to ellovv the valve 1 under pressure of the air in the train on line assisted by grainy she ivcigliied end of the armature chamber has openings sdje cent iii-e le el 1-3, through which access may be had 0 the iever and erimiture to restore i lion after they l to o gcrsi c description, it will b i: Lat when the magnets 8 l 1 with the main. battery, The 6D armature 6 is held by no magnet Q so ihzii' tics fulcrum ioicznber of the flu le lever ml a seat thereon, but that when the cirbrok *IlSlOIl of the spring will "to rod inwardly and ine member (3, s that the lever by :l'ie strengizh c we of the ep guretus, I time drewicgs, wherein. one

on is ilius W end usual air valves may be operated in ilie usual manner, when the apparatus is in working order, it is necessary to first close the circuit through the magnets before the locomotive carrying the apparatus may be storied,

carrying out my invention, I provide a resin battery,- gencrator, or both for energizing the throttle, air line and clutch megnets, and Wireless apparatus and circuits for breaking the main battery circuit, in order to decnergizc the magnets, one form of such apparatus comprising a drum flasher for making and breaking the receiving and sending circuits, a motor for operating the flasher, and any recei 'ing set properly prosected and capable of operating a relay to control the main battery or generator circuit, as above'mentioned.

In order to better describe the apparatus and. various circuits, 1 will give such descri tion in connection with a specific illustration of use ofthe apparatus.

The baiteries for energizing the controlled circuit may consisi of ordinary storage butfceries 17,01 a suitable generator, or both,

the circuit iron; iclie, batteries runs through the blade 18*, ofa switch 18, magnet 19,,brush20, contact disk 21, brush 22,

"motor 23, the blade 24, of a switch 24, the

closed armature 5G, magnet 10, magnet 8,

switch blade 18 of the switch 18 and back to batteries 17 thereby not only energizing the throttle, air line and clutch magnets to hold such parts in operative position, but also operating the motor 23 which drives the flasher through the following mechanism The motor 23 has e shaft 27 provided with zi- Worin 28, which meshes with ihe Worm wheel 29.

Located adjacent the Worm Wheel is a flasher having a shaft 31, mounted in bear- 31" provided With a clutch 32, that ii lingly held in operative engagement \viih the Worm Wheel by a. spiiug 3-3, so that "when the moi-or is active the flasher shaft will be revolved.

Fixed on the flasher shaft 31 are antenna ground and switch drums 35, 36 and 58, each having a brush surface in constant contactwith its respective antenna brush 37, ground crush 38 and switch brush 25; the antenna brush being connected with the antenna 40 by a Wire 41, and the ground brush Wiili the ground 4-2 by a Wire 43.

The receiving circuit comprises brushes iii? neeeeee e5, e5 which make. contact with the entennc and ground drums and are connected through the 'WlIB i6 and the arimary of the'tuning coil 48, so that when a circuit is closed between the antenna i9, and ground 42 through primary &7 electrical energy flowing through the primary e7 oi the tuning coil d8 mey pass by induction to the secondary 49 thereof.

The antenna and ground drums each have a sending segment integral therewith, adapted for contact with brushes 53 and 54, so that during a relatively short period in the revolution of the flasher shaft and 2mtenna, ground and switch drums, the sending brushes will make Contact with their respective segments to complete a. circuit through the sending apparatus, mechanism (not shown) being provided for lifting the receiving brushes. during the sending pe- 1 node.

ninetenths of a second of receiving to one tenth of a second of sending, so that. for

ninc-tenths of eve '3' second the apparatus is in condition for receiving Waves from o sending apparatus of another locomotive, or from a fixed station, and once every second apparatus will send out to here; ceived by the apparatus likewise arranged on another locomotive Within the dan er zone.

It is apparent that as each locomotive equipped "with the apparatus in condition almost continuously to receive waxes, and is sending Waves at least once every second, the receiving instrument of a cooperating apparatus will he operated practicaily at once upon its entering the danger zone of cooperating apparatus, so that the locomotive will be automatically stooped before can collide with another locomoti e, or the l" ,or run through an open switch, equipned with my apparatus.

sending circuit diilers cciving circu", in that each is wholly Within each indi duel apparatus and is operated indepcndeufi' of Waves emanating from an inde} '3 source; each sending circuit coniprising smrting from the batteries 1T-thc switch blade 18- of switch 18, primer side of spark coil 56,

circuit brush 57, sendiu drum segment 5 drum hr 5-, switch blade 2.., of switch some blade 18 of switch '18 o batteries 17, and from the secondary side the spark ea- 11 (5G, spark 5,

across Whic is shunted condo no 53. brush segment of drum ush 37, Wire ll. antenna 40 and from the other side of the spark g ap thr iigzjh Wire 6i, brush segment oi the drum brush through the circuit Just traced and thus sends out Hertzian Waves from the apparatus.

With the ports constructed and arranged as described, should two locomotives traveling in opposite directions approach each other to Within the dangerous radius or zone of the apparatus mounted on the locomotires, within a, second after they have entered such zone, the transmitting energy on each locomotive will he created and Waves sent therefrom and received by, the apparatus on the other locomotive. As soon as the Waves sent by one apgoeratus efiect the. re

ceiving circuit of the other apparatus Within the same dangerous Zone, electrical energy from antenna 40, passing through the pri mary oi oi tuning coil $8, is transferred To induction to the secondary 49 of the tunin coil s8. and thereov ener ize the I8CElV- 3 1 ,1

set, one form or" which comprises the following instrumentalitiesz The circuit line ii'ifrom the tuning coil 49 leads through a condenser 65:), by means of a flex ble conductor, to a contact member 66 at one tern inel of the conerer 70, so that when a Hertzmn wave is received from a 'coii eratin enncratus the filin s Within 1: a: A s a ing period has been completed.

When the circuit is closed through the cohercr 70, current also flows from batteries "Z5, through choke coil 73, iolariraed relay 74:, choke coil 76, contact 'I 1, coherer 70, contact 66, wire Y2 and he l; to battery '75, energizing the polarized 7%, that its armsture 79 is drawn over into point 8G. I

u armature When the rel J nae-lies contact with the point 80, a circui is closed through the armature 79, Wire 82, battery 8%, magnet 65 and back to contact point 8G, thereby closing a circuit tl'ircug'h the magnet 85.

soon as th circuit is closed through the nmgnet 85, the letter ener ed and lifts the armature "from the contact point 88, and breaks the circuit from the main hatter throu'h the motor, and througl'i the throttle, RlI-VfllVE and clutch magnets.

When the circuit hrolrcn through the magnets- S and 10, the armature 6 rocks iti i s ifuhr uiu moimting 65, so that 2 draws the i throttle lever "111-, the lever Euler-urns a 1' the hencontact with the denser, or the like, 120, which is shunted be tween brushes 114 and 25. I

Itis apparent that unless further provi sion is made, the flasher is as apt to stop in a receiving position as in a sending position, and that incas it should stop in receiving position the'sa ety apparatus would afford no protection to,the other train, or to a third or any subsequent train. It is not advisable, however, to discontinue sending the waves when the locomotives have stopped, for the reason that other locomotives coming along the same track might collide therewith, and in order to obviate such a result, I provide a means for stopping the flasher in the sending position following the breaking of the main battery circuit which comprises the following mechanism.

Projecting laterally from the clutch disengaging member 122, which is pivotally mounted on hearing 31, is an inclined head 122 having a base seat 122", which is held normally out of engagement with the clutch 32 by a magnet 19, but which is yieldingly tensioned toward the same by a spring 33 that is secured to the member 122 and to the bearing 31. v i

The clutch is feathered on the shaft 31 and is provided with a pin 32, which is held yieldingly in an aperture 29 in the worm gear 29 by the coil spring 33, so that asthe worm gear revolves under the influence or motor 23 the flasher will be revolved therewith.

Simultanepus with the breaking of the circuit through the magnets 8 and 10, the cir cuit of the magnet 19 is broken, thereby releasing the member 122, so that the inclined head 122 moves into the path of the clutch member The motion of the gear 29 rerolves the clutch member 32 against the inclined head 122 and thus moves the clutch against the tension of the spring 33 and causes it to rest on seat 122", thereby disengaging the pin 32 from the aperture 29 and stopping the flasher in sending position.

As a preliminary to the stopping of the flasher in the sending position, I construct the flasher, so that when the clutch 32 is moved out of contact with the motor worm wheel 29 by the disengaging clutch member- 122. the drums 35, 36 and 58 will move automatically to such position that the receiving contacts are broken and the sending contacts made and will be heldin that position. thus continuing the sending out of Hertzian waves to all trains attempting to enter the danger zone.

' Assuming that a locomotive carrying the apparatus has been automatically stopped, as described, by its having entered the danger zone of another train, it is apparent, as heretoforc described, that when the circuit is broken through the coils 8 and 19 respectively, the circuit isalso broken throughthe magnet coil 19 and the motor 23, the mag- 7 net coil 19 being deenergized, a taut spring 33 pulls the disengaging clutch member 122,

which fulcrums at the hinge 123, between theclutch 32 and the worm wheel 29, thus disengaging the worm wheel 29 from a fixed position on the flasher shaft 31 and stopother locomotive or locomotives within whose danger zone it is, and the lever 95 rocked as described in a foregoing pararaph. g The governor 125 is provided on the shaft 27 to regulate the speed of motor 23, thereby maintaining a constant speed for the purpose of keeping the sending and receiving period constant and .thus obviating any chance of synchrnoism between the apparatus on different locomotives. When the motor exceeds a certain predetermined speed, the contact disk 21 on the governor 125 is pulled out of contact with brushes 20 and by the centrifugal force of the governor balls 126, so that a circuit is completed from batteries 17 through switch blade'lS clutch magnet 19, governor resistance 127, brush 22, wire 128, motor 23, switch blade 24E, armature 50, magnets 10 and 8, switch blade 18, of switch 18, and back to batteries 17, thus reducing the electrical energy of the circuit sufliciently to lower the speed of the motor but not suf iciently to interfere with the working of the magnets 10, 8 and 19.

It is apparent that it is frequently necessary for trains to come into close proximity to each other, such as when they are enter-. ing stations, or the like, and that means should be provided for preventing operation of the apparatus under such circumstances.

For this purpose I provide the switch 2et,

the blades 21, 24, 24, 2 1 and their haviir usual lade posts, and having the blades of switch 24 or such construction that when the switch is turned from onepositioh' to the other there is an instant when the blades are in contact with both the main and auxiliary osts. p With this construction, when the switch is turned to cut oil the motor by the main blades 2 19 and 24* from their respective posts, the auxiliary blade 241 makes contact between posts 129 and 130 and the auxiliary blade 24 makes like contact bedisengaging V t\ 'ee u posts 131 and 132,12ef01ebreaki1 moi; mm the posss oi the 2102mm of switch 241, so that While the mam i J cu'c ut 1s nornmhy ciesed as desczlbed; is I1 131 1 relay 7 5 battery 17, through blade 18* f swltch 18, 11 1115 01' main 1' 7 Within the me magnet 19, brush 20, Contact disk 23.

- y olrcm 22, motor 23, blade 2& of switsh closed armature 50, mf net- 10, ma rel blade 18 switch 18am back 120 y IA} 17, a new circuit is formed tam the w mi 1? fl'xlough switch blade 18 of swl zeh '8,

past 131, blade 2?, post 1372 of swibcn L Win: 128, shunt resistance coil 134:, a past 1 50, blade 2%, post 129 of switcl. 24- armature 50, magnetlO, magnet S, swltch binds. 18 of switch 18 and has batterie having 17, and thus maintaining tha circllit throng? circuit the air brake and throttie magnets mounts through the shunt resistance coil lfi l ta-lzing 'iulcrum s a r 20 the place' sf the motor and magnet ceil 3.9, a Wireless 11 f ppm'atus 5 thus continuing to energize the magneas B 1:; whereb and 10 to prevent influencing thettavei a be its ann'tur the lOC-GIHO'HVG and. allowing the sendmg as 1 a purpose sfst ,iferth r Well as the z'ecelvlng appzuatals t0 be an; 6* a. The smnbmatlon with an sales and thereby obva .e automatic 9 31 53103 I emit, including magnefi, uf an miniature for 3f; the apparatus, whe; the ioazomotive carry means uner control 0'5 m av ing the apparatus is waving i'lso a s mian, n influencing; the tmv or other iom-xllty, when 1 is? p q vehicle 0: Jess-Yul,

1 trains t0 travel 11: close j c mlmg a a ether. Qua} be turned wile apparatus absut to aka a other like piace, so that the smc iing Wswas may be discontinued hereby @bviate unnecessary interruption of the firms of 2 "iocomotivs W3. .zin the station 01 simiiar 1 also pm wide means manuzf off aha main bazjtery circuit ami C19 engineefs znr-braka valves become if able throng accident; or when. the is tive idle W11? 12 the circuits are being ismetl a 4555 0; the batteriss charged, comprising 5% svr'itch 1S, heretofore menti011e iiOi'. v." various cther sircui p parent hat'when Contact 01'' is bluadqs z it'h xhair ss'ts bmk z: 1.111

battaries 31, cut, Out, and that the and .211 line magzlefis theretey gized. W E1119 1 have describe; ihe apparaius 7 adapted far use on locometives, 211:: Elm,

it is that sending agngumtus may be zriotin'te at switcl points towar etc. m cr0$ings Where 0011 035 with who carriers are, possible, and v{rm/z apparatus 7 I may be modified fol use aboard flip @Ulw circui E1 decoherar,

lightheuse-s, vari'gv. other poin Where a set-{ 1 i; f 35 i -1g its use may be suit under mm of the re instruments aving thus J itiens, i

inve

vhai I claim new necasee pleting the main electrical and decoherer circuits.

(5-, The combination with means for influencing travel of a motor, of a battery circuit including a member for controlling said means and including a secondary motor, a flasher operable by the secondary motor, Wireless sending and receiving apparatus havin electrical circuits adapted for alternate c osing by means of the flasher, and a shunt circuit for maintaining the main battery circuit when the latter is cut out through the motor.

- 7. The combination with means for influencing travel of a motor, and a main battery circuit including a motor and including means for control ing the vehicle influencing means, a flasher operable by said last named motor and including antenna and ground drums, wireless receiving and Sending apparatus having circuits including brushes and flasher drums, means on the flasher adapted for cooperation With the said drums to close a circuit through the sending apparatus, a shunt circuit for cutting out the last named motor Without breaking the main battery circuit, and switch for controlling the shunt circuit.

8. The combination with means for influencing travel of a primary motor and a main battery circuit including a secondary motor and including means for controlling the primary motor influencing means, a flasher operable by said secondary motor and including antenna and ground drums, wireless receiving and sending apparatus having circuits including brushes and flasher drums, means on the flasher adapted for cooperation with the said drums to close a circuit through the sending apparatus, a shunt circuit for cuttin out the secondary motor Without breaking the ain battery circuit, and a switch for'controlling the shunt circuit and whereby the shunt circuit is closed before the main circuit, through the secondary motor, is broken.

9. The combination 'With means for influencing travel of a primary motor, ofa secondary motor, including a governor and a resistance coil, a main battery circuit including the primary motor influencing means, the secondary motor and the governor, a wireless receiving apparatus for controlling the main battery circuit, and a shunt circuit adapted for maintaining flow of current through the main battery circuit when the main battery circuit is broken at the motor governor and the current forced through the motor resistance coil.

10. The combination with means for influencing travel of a rimary motor, of a secondary motor including governor and a resistance coil, a main battery circuit including the primary motor influencing means, the motor and the governor, a Wireless receiving apparatus for controlling the main battery circuit, a shunt circuit adapted for maintainin flow of current through the main battery circuit when the main battery circuit is broken at the motor governor and the current forced through the motor resistance coil, and a switch adapted for breaking the main battery circuit and closing the shunt circuit and whereby both circuits are closed at an intermediate period to obviate breaking of the entire battery circuit.

11. The combination with means for influencing travel of a primary motor, of a main battery circuit including a magnet for controlling said means and including a secondary motor and its governor, a magnet and brushes included in the circuit, a flasher operable by the motor, means under control of the magnet for disconnecting the flasher from said motor, a shunt circuit including a resistance coil adapted for maintaining the battery circuit closed when the main circuit through the brushes is broken, and means for breaking the circuit through the brushes and making the circuit through the resistance coil.

12. The combination with means for influencing travel of a motor, of a main battery circuit including a magnet for controlling said means, a Wireless sending and receiving apparatus for breaking the main battery circuit and including separate antenna and ground drums having sections adapted for alternate contract by brushes in the Wireless sending and receiving apparatus.

13. The combination with means for influencing travel of a vehicle, of a main battery circuit for controlling said means, a Wireless receiving apparatus for controlling the main battery circuit, a Wireless sending apparatus, circuits including the Wireless sending and receiving apparatus, a flasher adapted for closing and opening the sending and receiving apparatus circuits alter natelyand for automatic movement to sending position when freed'fi om its driving member, a drivingmemberincluded in the main battery circuit and adapted for actuating the flasher, and a shunt circuit for maintaining the main battery circuit when the latter is broken through the driving member.

l h' lhe combination with means for influencing" travel of a motor, of a main battery circuit including a magnet for controlling said means, a Wireless receiving appara-tus for breaking the main battery circuit, a manually operable member for reestablishing the main battery circuit, and

means connected with said member for loclc,

W bamro'i of swirl circuits;

misnmtically locking the athe main magnet circuit eperable means for releas- 1 means for compelling to cse the main ma 'net cirmezzns operating said deco beret;

cmnbinafion with means for inthe travel of a power driven veof a main electrical supply circuit including a magflliitk'ilf; :1 third. circuit includfor the armature; a fourth cirgslarized reiay and a couner certain conditic ng to apparatus, including am acxapted for energizing the break saicl scaconci 1 usher-er is afiected by the ike apparatus; a deczoherer; 1 energizing said clecsherer, 'tomai ivally locking the a 3- secand circuit open, and means 501' actuating a deficherer circuit and renatibn with a main electrir v an 16, U1 2: plurahfiy of appa- 1 1 V 2 ma 1 mn'unte upon a colndable object keg? t0 amt matically prevent c01- apparwns' compfis'mg in part, itec ifingz instruments a c0- men bars for the caberer, a surronnding' saici cohaer, -isengagin said eenmst mam where? during the transmitan; the afious 05 she apparatus andvauzi fiary ei to perform variants func- Y act-mien 0f the auta- 1 0f api fiaratus arranged preventing" callision's be- \3 mechanically driven veeach equippei therewith, Us comprising, "In part, uingapparatus and 002% g adapted t0 energize the re ca 111% sf a like appazatus when 5 511 vehicles 02 vessels so appmaching Each 0? e1,

Prat 1011s determmeli a insu'iaivec'i bushings, comm; for tram-2i in, saiia insumeaas for autema'ifiafiy zecnntam: members "'50 221%} raw thereimm. v a. 01 1 1s camsbnwiifing ifistrument coxitrofizig 0?: the vemcle m vessel 'u'pon afm'ssaii waiving; 2321- coil of said tuner,

herer, a relay in said additional or second circuit, a source of energy for the relay, a case for the coherer, conduits of insulated material or materials for said case, contact members in the coherer circuit, and means for automatically actuating such members, for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of-two witnesses.

HARRY D. BETZ. Witnesses:

ARTHUR. W. Cars, L. E. Cons. 

